INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE

Standards alignment guide

makecode.microbit.org
CONTENTS
Course summary................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
Standards alignment guide............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
CSTA K-12 Computer Science standards, revised 2017....................................................................................................................................... 2
Targeted standards by unit............................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Unit 1: Making with micro:bit............................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Unit 2: Algorithms..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Unit 3: Variables......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Unit 4: Conditionals.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Unit 5: Iteration.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Unit 6: Mini-project.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Unit 7: Coordinates................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Unit 8: Booleans......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Unit 9: Bits, bytes, and binary............................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Unit 10: Radio communications........................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Unit 11: Arrays............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Unit 12: Independent final project...................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Targeted standards table............................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

COURSE SUMMARY
This twelve-unit course provides an introduction to coding and computer science by way of making and design, using the
revolutionary new micro:bit microcontroller board, and Microsoft’s easy and powerful MakeCode block-based coding
environment. The course is a project-based curriculum, with a maker philosophy at its core, that provides a context for
learning coding and computer science concepts through the act of making physical objects.
The course is comprised of twelve units with each focusing on specific computer science concepts and programming skills.
Each unit includes three lessons that combine unplugged activities to introduce the concepts, guided or “birdhouse”
activities to gain hands-on coding experience, self-directed independent projects to apply their new skills in creative ways,
and assessments to test their knowledge and skill development. Teaching all twelve units and their included lessons will
total approximately 50 hours of instruction.
When students complete this course, they will have a good understanding of more than ten computer science concepts
that can serve as the foundation for future study. They will develop powerful design skills that they can use in future
projects of all types, whether they are designing 3D printed prototypes or creating apps that serve a real-world purpose.
Educators who have never taught computer science before are encouraged to incorporate this course into their
curriculum, regardless of their subject area.

Introduction to Computer Science: Standards alignment guide | 1

STANDARDS ALIGNMENT GUIDE
This document is included to provide a summary of which CSTA 2017-revised standards are addressed throughout the
course. Below you will find a course summary and the CSTA 2017-revised standards defined and broken down by unit.

CSTA K-12 COMPUTER SCIENCE STANDARDS,

REVISED 2017

Identifier Standard Concept Sub concept Practice(s)

Create programs that use variables to store and Algorithms &

1B-AP-09 Algorithms Creating
modify data. Programming

Create programs that include sequences, events, Algorithms &

1B-AP-10 Control Creating
loops, and conditionals. Programming

Decompose (break down) problems into smaller,

Algorithms & Computational
1B-AP-11 manageable subproblems to facilitate the Modularity
Programming Problems
program development process.

Modify, remix, or incorporate portions of an

existing program into one's own work, to Algorithms &
1B-AP-12 Modularity Creating
develop something new or add more advanced Programming
features.

Use an iterative process to plan the development Algorithms & Program Inclusion,
1B-AP-13 of a program by including others' perspectives Programming Development Creating
and considering user preferences.
Test and debug (identify and fix errors) a
Algorithms & Program
1B-AP-15 program or algorithm to ensure it runs as Testing
Programming Development
intended.

Take on varying roles, with teacher guidance,

when collaborating with peers during the design, Algorithms & Program
1B-AP-16 Collaborating
implementation, and review stages of program Programming Development
development.
Describe choices made during program
Algorithms & Program
1B-AP-17 development using code comments, Communicating
Programming Development
presentations, and demonstrations.

Describe how internal and external parts of Computing

1B-CS-01 Devices Communicating
computing devices function to form a system. Systems

Model how computer hardware and software Computing Hardware &

1B-CS-02 Abstraction
work together as a system to accomplish tasks. Systems Software

1B-IC-20 Impacts of Social Inclusion

Seek diverse perspectives for the purpose of

Introduction to Computer Science: Standards alignment guide | 2

 improving computational artifacts. Computing Interactions

Model how information is broken down into

smaller pieces, transmitted as packets through Network
1B-NI-04 Networks & the
multiple devices over networks and the Internet, Communication Abstraction
Internet
and reassembled at the destination. & Organization

2-AP-10 Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address Algorithms &

complex problems as algorithms. Algorithms Abstraction
Programming

Create clearly named variables that represent

2-AP-11 different data types and perform operations on Algorithms &
Variables Creating
their values. Programming

Design and iteratively develop programs that

2-AP-12 combine control structures, including nested Algorithms &
Control Creating
loops and compound conditionals. Programming

Decompose problems and subproblems into

2-AP-13 parts to facilitate the design, implementation, Algorithms & Computational
Modularity
and review of programs. Programming Problems

Seek and incorporate feedback from team

2-AP-15 members and users to refine a solution that Algorithms & Program Collaborating,
meets user needs. Programming Development Inclusion

Systematically test and refine programs using a

2-AP-17 Algorithms & Program
range of test cases. Testing
Programming Development
Document programs in order to make them
2-AP-19 Algorithms & Program
easier to follow, test, and debug. Communicating
Programming Development

Recommend improvements to the design of

2-CS-01 computing devices, based on an analysis of how Computing Computational
Devices
users interact with the devices. Systems Problems

Design projects that combine hardware and

2-CS-02 software components to collect and exchange Computing Hardware &
Creating
data. Systems Software

Represent data using multiple encoding

2-DA-07 Data & Analysis Storage Abstraction
schemes.

Create prototypes that use algorithms to solve

3A-AP-13 computational problems by leveraging prior Algorithms &
Algorithms Creating
student knowledge and personal interests. Programming

Use lists to simplify solutions, generalizing

3A-AP-14 computational problems instead of repeatedly Algorithms &
Variables Abstraction
using simple variables. Programming

3A-AP-16 Design and iteratively develop computational Algorithms & Control Creating
artifacts for practical intent, personal expression, Programming
or to address a societal issue by using events to

Introduction to Computer Science: Standards alignment guide | 3

initiate instructions.

Introduction to Computer Science: Standards alignment guide | 4

TARGETED STANDARDS BY UNIT
Unit 1: Making with micro:bit
1B-AP-13 - Use an iterative process to plan the development of a program by including others' perspectives and
considering user preferences.
1B-IC-20 - Seek diverse perspectives for the purpose of improving computational artifacts.
2-CS-01 - Recommend improvements to the design of computing devices, based on an analysis of how users interact with
the devices.
2-AP-15 - Seek and incorporate feedback from team members and users to refine a solution that meets user needs.
3A-AP-13 - Create prototypes that use algorithms to solve computational problems by leveraging prior student
knowledge and personal interests.
3A-AP-16 - Design and iteratively develop computational artifacts for practical intent, personal expression, or to address a
societal issue by using events to initiate instructions.

Unit 2: Algorithms
1B-CS-01 - Describe how internal and external parts of computing devices function to form a system.
1B-CS-02 - Model how computer hardware and so􀁸ware work together as a system to accomplish tasks.
1B-AP-10 - Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.
1B-AP-17 - Describe choices made during program development using code comments, presentations, and
demonstrations.
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms

Unit 3: Variables
1B-AP-09 - Create programs that use variables to store and modify data.
2-AP-11 - Create clearly named variables that represent different data types and perform operations on their values.

Unit 4: Conditionals
1B-AP-10 - Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
2-AP-12 - Design and iteratively develop programs that combine control structures, including nested loops and
compound conditionals.

Unit 5: Iteration
1B-AP-10 - Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.
1B-AP-15 - Test and debug (identify and fix errors) a program or algorithm to ensure it runs as intended.
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
2-AP-12 - Design and iteratively develop programs that combine control structures, including nested loops and
compound conditionals.

Unit 6: Mini-project
1B-AP-11 - Decompose (break down) problems into smaller, manageable subproblems to facilitate the program
development process.
1B-AP-12 - Modify, remix, or incorporate portions of an existing program into one's own work, to develop something new
or add more advanced features.
Introduction to Computer Science: Standards alignment guide | 5
1B-AP-15 - Test and debug (identify and fix errors) a program or algorithm to ensure it runs as intended.
2-AP-13 - Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of
programs.
2-AP-17 - Systematically test and refine programs using a range of test cases.
2-AP-19 - Document programs in order to make them easier to follow, test, and debug.
3A-AP-13 - Create prototypes that use algorithms to solve computational problems by leveraging prior student
knowledge and personal interests.
3A-AP-16 - Design and iteratively develop computational artifacts for practical intent, personal expression, or to address a
societal issue by using events to initiate instructions.

Unit 7: Coordinates
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.

Unit 8: Booleans
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.

Unit 9: Bits, bytes, and binary

2-DA-07 - Represent data using multiple encoding schemes.
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.

Unit 10: Radio communications

1B-NI-04 - Model how information is broken down into smaller pieces, transmitted as packets through multiple devices
over networks and the Internet, and reassembled at the destination.
1B-AP-16 - Take on varying roles, with teacher guidance, when collaborating with peers during the design,
implementation, and review stages of program development.
2-CS-02 - Design projects that combine hardware and software components to collect and exchange data.

Unit 11: Arrays

2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
3A-AP-14 - Use lists to simplify solutions, generalizing computational problems instead of repeatedly using simple
variables.

Unit 12: Independent final project

1B-AP-11 - Decompose (break down) problems into smaller, manageable subproblems to facilitate the program
development process.
1B-AP-12 - Modify, remix, or incorporate portions of an existing program into one's own work, to develop something new
or add more advanced features.
1B-AP-15 - Test and debug (identify and fix errors) a program or algorithm to ensure it runs as intended.
2-AP-13 - Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of
programs.
2-AP-17 - Systematically test and refine programs using a range of test cases.
2-AP-19 - Document programs in order to make them easier to follow, test, and debug.
3A-AP-13 - Create prototypes that use algorithms to solve computational problems by leveraging prior student
knowledge and personal interests.
3A-AP-16 - Design and iteratively develop computational artifacts for practical intent, personal expression, or to address a
societal issue by using events to initiate instructions.

Introduction to Computer Science: Standards alignment guide | 6

Targeted standards table
Standard Unit 1: Unit 2: Unit 3: Unit 4: Unit 5: Unit 6: Mini Unit 7: Unit 8: Unit 9: Unit 10: Unit 11: Unit 12: Final
Making Algorithms Variables Conditionals Iteration project Coordinates Booleans Bits Radio Arrays project

1B-AP-09 X
1B-AP-10 X X X
1B-AP-11 X X
1B-AP-12 X X
1B-AP-13 X
1B-AP-15 X X X
1B-AP-16 X
1B-AP-17 X
1B-CS-01 X
1B-CS-02 X
1B-IC-20 X
1B-NI-04 X
2-AP-10 X X X X X X X
2-AP-11 X
2-AP-12 X X
2-AP-13 X X
2-AP-15 X
2-AP-17 X X
2-AP-19 X X
2-CS-01 X
2-CS-02 X
2-DA-07 X
3A-AP-13 X X X
3A-AP-14 X
3A-AP-16 X X X

Coding with Minecraft: Standards Alignment Guide | 5